Mr Michael D. Tutor Profile

Tutor Personal Information

I have a master's degree in physics from Berkeley and two bachelor's degrees in mathematics and physics from Penn State. I have worked as a community college physics instructor and a high school math and physics teacher. And I currently tutor physics, calculus, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. I am experienced in correcting the numerous problems students have while learning these subjects.

I am available to tutor most afternoons and evenings. I prefer to tutor in a public place like Blasco Memorial Library in Erie, which has private rooms suitable for tutoring. Though, I am also open to tutoring in other places.

My teaching philosophy is: For true understanding of the subject matter, the student must learn not only the proper problem solving techniques (or "how to do it"), but also the reasoning behind those techniques (or "why it works"). If the student errs when attempting to solve a problem but can explain the reasons for their actions, then we can correct both their logic and their action, and the student will learn. If the student can not explain the reasons for their actions, then, even if their answer is correct, the problem solving techniques appear mystical to the student, and the student will not learn.

The key to making sure my tutoring is student-centered is communication, primarily from the student to the tutor. The student may not be willing to freely state their thoughts when learning in a classroom, because they fear looking foolish to their instructor and classmates. As their tutor, there is no penalty from me when they are incorrect. When the student makes an error, I correct their error, and they learn from it, so that they do not make the same error when it counts.

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Tutor Background